Key Points
Watering the soil before you pull any weeds will make them easier to remove.This method softens the root system so you can pull the whole weed up with ease.However, make sure not to overwater—waterlogged or muddy soil can lead to even more weeds.
No one wants weeds filling up their vegetable garden or flower bed. However, pulling these problematic plants by hand can be difficult—particularly after they’ve established roots.
The good news? There’s an easy way to loosen the soil and make it much easier to remove them. Here’s everything you need to know about this simple trick, according to the gardening pros who’ve done it.
Trent Brown, garden expert and founder of Ground Break Design, author of Taking Your Yard from Overwhelm to Oasis
Ryan Walts, garden expert; training manager and business coach at Lawn Squad
Chrissie Handley, lawn care specialist and gardening expert at Online Turf
Water the Soil
The secret? Add some water to the soil before pulling up any weeds.
“Moist soil softens the grip around the weed’s root system, making it much easier to pull the whole root out, instead of snapping it off at the base,” says Trent Brown, garden expert and founder of Ground Break Design.
Watering the soil is especially great for removing shallow-rooted dandelions or chickweed, adds Ryan Walts, training manager and business coach at Lawn Squad.
How to Do It
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make sure you get all of the weeds out of your garden.
Soak the Soil
If the soil is dry and it hasn’t rained the night before, then you’ll want to water it yourself. “Water the same depth that you would water a flower bed, about 1/3 to 1/2 an inch of water,” says Brown.
Watering should take no more than about 10 minutes; otherwise, you could turn the dirt into mud, which will make it difficult to walk through the garden.
Wait
It may take some time for the water to reach down to the weed roots—about 2 hours, according to Brown. Patience is key, as waiting allows the water to penetrate down around the roots and not simply soak the surface of your flower bed.
Pull the Weeds
After waiting, pull out the first weed. Make sure to grab it firmly at the base and pull it slowly.
Don’t be afraid to use some tools. “A hand trowel or soil knife helps with stubborn weeds,” says Brown. If you can’t always get the entire root out, then try to cut it as far down as possible—this will help slow down any potential regrowth.
Good gardening gloves help grip the root at the base of the weed and will protect your hands from any weed thorns.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect weeding can make the process difficult or more arduous, or allow the weeds to come back. Here are a few common mistakes that the experts see.
Not Waiting for the Right Season
Your local climate will also impact how easy it is to pull out weeds, even after watering the soil.
“For the most effective weed removal, you want mild temperatures of spring or autumn, so that the soil is warm and malleable,” says Chrissie Handley, a lawn care specialist at Online Turf.
For example, if you wanted to weed your lawn in winter, then the ground will be too frozen or hard to pull the weeds out, she says. Watering frozen soil won’t help loosen them either, since the water cannot be absorbed.
Using Too Much Water
Saturating the area or pulling weeds when the soil is waterlogged can actually create more weeds. “This can stress grass and leave bare spots that weeds will quickly reinvade,” says Walts.
Know What Weeds You’re Pulling
Whenever possible, identify the weeds that have invaded your garden. While common weeds like dandelion are easier to wrench from the dirt, others might not be so simple.
Horsetail, for example, can send up even more shoots than the amount you pull out. “With weeds like that, it’s important to take a different, multi-pronged approach, so you’re not making the problem worse,” says Brown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pulling weeds by hand the best way to remove them?
Hand-pulling weeds is usually only a temporary fix, says Walts. For a more long-term fix, focus on the overall health of the lawn via regular fertilization, proper mowing, and consistent weed control treatments.
When is the best season for pulling weeds?
Spring and autumn, when the temperatures are mild. According to Handley, this is when watering most helps loosen the soil. However, make sure you check the moisture levels in your soil, she adds—and only water if the soil is dry.
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